That seems like a fairly simple question on the surface, and – in many senses – it actually is fairly simple, with fairly simple answers. You have to think it through a little bit to actually get to that simplistic core, however.

So, what ever happened to marketing and PR? As an art and a science, did they even make it into the 21st century, or did they fall into a ditch somewhere, and we never noticed?

Before we get started, I’m not saying that that all marketing and PR is bad or wrong nor that everyone who does them is rubbish. There are certainly still exemplars, but if you want a bland, ineffective and banal image – well, that’s the way to bet, because that’s what so much of the industry seems to be delivering.

The pack included a hoverboard vehicle and L$1000 (a little under four US dollars in Second Life currency) and was limited to one-per-customer. Intended to sell for USD9.95, the pack was a free promotion for the weekend, but was removed quite promptly after the announcement.

Peter Gray, spokesperson for Linden Lab, tells us why the offer was pulled.